Can't enjoy simple things like reading anymore...

So, for awhile now I've been beating myself down on improvement. Literally anything I do, I have to be great at otherwise I feel like I'm wasting time. It's gotten to the point where I can't even sit down and enjoy a book because I'm not reading it fast enough. Instead of focusing on the book, I'm always telling myself to pick up the pace which brakes my flow, making me read slower which then triggers my frustration making put the book down after one or two pages. I can't deal with this anymore! I just finished my first year of college and my readings where impossible to go through with this mentality. It takes so much time for me to finish my assignments and I know my marks have been suffering because of this. When a teacher asks me to read something in front of the class, I lie and say I left my contacts at home to avoid being ridiculed from the other students. The weird part of this is that I know I'm capable of reading like a normal person. There are rare times when I'm so immersed in a book where I'm flying through pages, but it never lasts long. I don't know what to do! People tell me to just stop thinking too much, but I can't help it! I'm really trying here, but all my attempts have failed. Maybe there's a deeper issue that I need to address first and if anyone out there can help me figure it out, I'd be incredibly grateful. I know there are a lot more serious issues to deal with, but this one has been such a humiliating burden on me and has definitely contributed to my anxiety around others. PLEASE HELP!

Voting Results
57% Normal
Based on 7 votes (4 yes)
Help us keep this site organized and clean. Thanks!
[ Report Post ]
Comments ( 3 )
  • RoseIsabella

    Invasive thoughts?

    Comment Hidden ( show )
      -
    • VinceLasalleSavedMyLife

      Thats exactly it! I've never put it in those words, but yes thats pretty much it.

      Comment Hidden ( show )
        -
      • RoseIsabella

        Thanks, I'm glad I could help! Sometimes I struggle when those as well. I'm starting to suspect that I may have some ADD.

        Comment Hidden ( show )